Department of Transport asked to weigh in on future of Pride crossing in Arklow
LGBTIQA+ campaigner Dave Thomas. It was the first of its kind in the county and the first to be installed anywhere in the Republic of Ireland.
Since its implementation, Mr Thomas has been pushing for similar crossings throughout the county but has faced significant pushback from officials by
Wicklow County Council, who believe the Department of Transport has instructed that crossings do not conform to current legislation associated with pedestrian crossings and as contained in the Traffic Signs Manual.
Speaking in the Dáil Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne said the council should not allow the crossing to fall into a state of disrepair.
'I ask that the Department of Transport be more proactive than saying this is a matter for each local authority. It would be an awful pity if the crossing in Arklow, the first town in the country that had a rainbow crossing in place, were allowed to fade. I know from many in the area that it is a matter of serious concern.'
In response junior minister Sean Canney advised that there is no statutory basis for rainbow pedestrian crossings in Ireland.
'Such crossings, the use of which cannot be enforced by An Garda Síochána, operate on a purely courtesy basis and are installed at the discretion of the individual local authority. The local authority has sole responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of road markings and my Department has no function in this regard.'
During a recent meeting district meeting in Arklow, district engineer Avril Hill said she was unaware of any ring-fenced funding to allow for the upkeep of the crossing, adding: 'The advice that I have received is that they're not compliant for people with additional sight needs. Right now, we're not looking to refresh it as it is not complying with standards.'
A petition launched by Mr Thomas calling for the decision to be reversed has already received hundreds of signatures online which he plans to submit to officials in both Wicklow County Council and Arklow Municipal District.
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Arklow's Pride crossing was created in 2021 on the back of years of campaigning by filmmaker, co-founder of the Wicklow Pride Festival and LGBTIQA+ campaigner Dave Thomas. It was the first of its kind in the county and the first to be installed anywhere in the Republic of Ireland. Since its implementation, Mr Thomas has been pushing for similar crossings throughout the county but has faced significant pushback from officials by Wicklow County Council, who believe the Department of Transport has instructed that crossings do not conform to current legislation associated with pedestrian crossings and as contained in the Traffic Signs Manual. Speaking in the Dáil Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne said the council should not allow the crossing to fall into a state of disrepair. 'I ask that the Department of Transport be more proactive than saying this is a matter for each local authority. It would be an awful pity if the crossing in Arklow, the first town in the country that had a rainbow crossing in place, were allowed to fade. I know from many in the area that it is a matter of serious concern.' In response junior minister Sean Canney advised that there is no statutory basis for rainbow pedestrian crossings in Ireland. 'Such crossings, the use of which cannot be enforced by An Garda Síochána, operate on a purely courtesy basis and are installed at the discretion of the individual local authority. The local authority has sole responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of road markings and my Department has no function in this regard.' During a recent meeting district meeting in Arklow, district engineer Avril Hill said she was unaware of any ring-fenced funding to allow for the upkeep of the crossing, adding: 'The advice that I have received is that they're not compliant for people with additional sight needs. Right now, we're not looking to refresh it as it is not complying with standards.' A petition launched by Mr Thomas calling for the decision to be reversed has already received hundreds of signatures online which he plans to submit to officials in both Wicklow County Council and Arklow Municipal District.
